HEKS/EPER is making a difference in the «Advocacy for the socially disadvantaged» in Kosovo

Living conditions for the Roma and other minorities in Kosovo are characterized by poverty, joblessness, discrimination and a lack of prospects. The Roma have only limited access to education, medical care, housing, electricity and water. HEKS/EPER facilitates their inclusion in society by focussing on the areas of schooling, housing improvement, healthcare, vocational training and income support. Significant headway was made in 2015 with the ongoing integration of the 22 learning centres for Roma and other children developed by HEKS/EPER into Kosovo's educational system. Besides, there are now 500 beneficiaries under the scholarship programme that was originally launched for 80 students. In the Fushe Kosove Roma settlement, 85 families were able to renovate their small houses.

Facts

Over 1000 Roma children experiencing difficulties at school received remedial lessons in 2017.

500 received a scholarship for an apprenticeship or for higher education.

HEKS provides pro bono legal advice for people in emergency situations in the areas of social insurance, social welfare, family matters, children and guardianship, tenancy and foreign nationals. Those affected by poverty as well as undocumented persons should have the possibility of receiving legal advice. The legal advice offices for socially disadvantaged people in the Cantons of Aargau and Geneva provide professional advice to those in need of help. Legal experts and/or lawyers help those needing advice to understand legal situations, and also point them towards possibilities for self-help. In selected cases, the legal advice office undertakes the legal representation of a needy person.